PISA results - UK governments must invest in data skills
Dec. 3, 2019PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE
PISA RESULTS – UK GOVERNMENTS MUST INVEST IN DATA SKILLS
The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey has found steady improvement in the UK’s performance in reading, maths and science.
However, the UK lags far behind countries like China and Singapore, in 14th place in science and 18th place in maths.
Within the UK, England had the highest scores in all three subjects, with Wales the worst performer.
Scotland's performance in reading has improved, but it has fallen back in maths and science.
The Pisa report measures the performance of 600,000 15-year-olds worldwide.
The Open Knowledge Foundation has challenged the UK Governments to do more to empower British citizens by investing in digital skills.
Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation, said:
“The UK’s steady improvement is welcome, but the country still lags far behind global leaders.
“The decline in maths in Scotland is particularly concerning.
“Without training and knowledge in digital skills, large numbers of UK workers will be ill-equipped to take on many jobs of the future.
“The digital revolution is driven by data, opening up extraordinary access to information for everyone about how we live, what we consume, and who we are.
“Governments across the UK must work harder to give everyone access to key information and the ability to use it to understand and shape their lives, building a fair, free and open future.”
ENDS
Contact: Alan Roden at [email protected] or +44 (0)7753 904 531
ABOUT OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
Our vision is for a future that is fair, free and open. Our mission is to create a more open world – a world where all non-personal information is open, free for everyone to use, build on and share; and creators and innovators are fairly recognised and rewarded.
Open knowledge is any content, information or data that people are free to use, re-use and redistribute without any legal, technological or social restriction. The Open Knowledge Foundation helps governments, universities, and civil society organisations by providing them with skills and tools to publish, use, and understand data.
Read more here: https://okfn.org
The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation. It is incorporated in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, with company number 05133759. Registered office address: 86 - 90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE, UK.